Sneaker Spotlight: Free Trainer 5.0 TB

For this week’s sneaker spotlight, we’ll be taking a look at the Free Trainer 5.0 TBs released in 2014.

The Free Trainer 5.0 TB marked the second time that Nike rolled out a Texas themed Free Trainer. This shoe is done up in a classic burnt orange and white colorway that is sure to please most Texas fans. It also features Longhorn branding on the tongue and the insole, which is unusual for a TB (Team Bank) shoe. All in all this is a solid looking pair of trainers, and during the period they released in were a must for any UT supporter.

Of course one can’t take about these Frees without mentioning their unusual release. They first began appearing at Dick’s Sporting Goods towards the beginning of summer 2014. However, Nike did not make an announcement that these trainers were releasing and put zero marketing behind the shoe, forcing people to figure out how to get them by themselves. They later ended up at Nike Factory Stores across the state of Texas, but as to why they seemingly appeared out of nowhere is still a mystery to this day.

I believe that Nike was planning on giving these trainers an official release, but due to the launch of the first Week Zero collection at the end of that same summer they decided to scrap it in order to avoid competing with themselves. As the shoes had already been made a few of them made it to the open market at Dick’s Sporting Goods, but the rest were held back until they were eventually liquidated through Nike Outlets. Regardless of their odd release, the Free Trainer 5.0 TB still remains a classic from a time where the release of a yearly UT trainer was by no means guaranteed.